Your Learning Style, and How To Prepare for the CPA Exam

Studying for the CPA exam can be a grind, especially if you study in a way that doesn’t align with your own personal learning style. While there are as many as seven different learning styles, there are four learning styles you should think about on when preparing for the CPA exam.

Many students end up switching CPA review courses because their first course didn’t support their learning style, wasting precious time and money. Don’t let this happen to you!

In this post, I’ll help you understand your own personal learning style and teach you the best ways to prepare for the CPA exam.

What Are the Different CPA Exam Learning Styles?

A ton of great research and guidance about learning styles has been published over the past several years.

Unfortunately, most of that guidance is targeted toward general learning and not for a professional licensing exam like the CPA exam.

Since the subject matter and sheer volume of information you need to know for CPA exam is unique, I sorted through all of the research and analyzed every possible learning style and method you should consider as you prep for the CPA exam.

For the CPA exam there are really four learning styles to consider:

• Visual (spatial)
• Auditory (aural-musical)
• Reading/Writing (verbal/linguistic)
• Kinesthetic (physical)

While each learning style has its own distinct characteristics, there’s also plenty of overlapping qualities between them. Because of this, you’ll likely identify with multiple learning styles, each to a varying degree.

As you read through, think about which learning style(s) you identify with most strongly and use that to guide how you prepare for the CPA exam. Don’t be afraid to try different approaches either. Passing the CPA exam can be a long process, so experimenting with different methods from time to time can actually keep you more engaged and focused.

Let’s take a deeper dive into what each learning style is about and the CPA study tips that best support each one.

Visual Learners

Visual learners learn and retain information best through using visually engaging study aids and methods (surprise!). Information-rich visuals like charts, pictures, graphs or decision trees are especially helpful for these types of learners, but they can also learn well from plain-old reading.

Signs You’re a Visual Learner

• You’re good at identifying and recognizing patterns
• You easily notice when the appearance of something changes
• You learn well from visuals or just by reading a textbook
• You have a visual memory and easily remember pictures, charts, diagrams, etc.
• You have a vivid imagination and occasionally daydream
• You have a good sense of direction and use maps and charts well
• You’re highly organized and/or make and follow lists
• You enjoy using flash cards, watching videos and highlighting information when you study
• You get easily distracted by random noises
• You prefer to work or study in a quiet environment or with white noise

CPA Exam Study Tips For Visual Learners

• When highlighting and marking up your course textbook, use different colors or symbols to indicate different types of material (e.g. definitions / terms, formulas, etc.)
• Rewrite lessons and key concepts in your own words, either on a sheet of paper or by creating flashcards
• Use different colored stationary or stickers to denote different types of information
• Organize your notes and key concepts in an outline format to help you think through how certain concepts fit into the broader topic
• Make your study environment as calm and quiet as possible, or use a white noise app to drown out distractions
• Create to-do lists to keep track of topics you need to study further
• Try whiteboarding the key concepts and organizing the information in a way that makes the most sense to you

Best CPA Courses For Visual Learners

For visual learners I recommend Universal CPA Review and Becker CPA Review as the top CPA review courses.

• Universal CPA Review has by far the most visually engaging course textbook and video lectures you’ll find, and all of their multiple choice questions and task-based simulations feature video explanations that make heavy use of visual aids.
• Becker CPA Review comes in a close second as their various lecture formats are visually engaging, they mark up their own textbooks,  and they make great use of helpful mnemonics.

(For the latest and BEST discounts on these CPA review courses, check out my discounts page)

Auditory Learners

Auditory and aural learners are those that learn best when information is presented vocally or out loud, either through lectures or in their own words. In classroom settings they’re less keen on taking notes and often prefer listening to lectures and participating in group discussions to understand things. They’re often musically inclined and have a good sense of rhythm.

Signs You’re an Auditory Learner

• Taking notes can be distracting or break your attention
• You prefer listening to lectures or asking questions to learn
• You often notice the tone someone uses when they tell you something
• You sing, play an instrument or just really love music
• You’re a good listener
• Love listening to podcasts and audiobooks
• Studying with background music doesn’t distract you
• You often went to office hours in college
• You’re comfortable working in study groups
• You’re comfortable reading out loud or with public speaking

CPA Exam Study Tips For Auditory Learners

• Watch all video lectures at the start of each lesson
• Listen to audio lectures during your commute, while working out, etc.
• Use symbols and short-hand to take notes efficiently
• Set mnemonics to a rhyme or rhythm
• Read your notes out loud and in your own words
• Find a study partner or group to discuss challenging topics
• Read your textbook and flashcards out loud
• Study with background music that helps you focus
• Utilize FREE lecture videos from Universal CPA Review

Best CPA Courses For Auditory Learners

The top CPA review courses all offer lectures in some format, but some go the extra mile with audio lectures or have a team of CPA exam tutors available to answer questions as they come up. For auditory learners I recommend Yaeger CPA Review, Becker CPA Review, and UWorld Roger CPA Review.

• Yaeger CPA Review offers both video and audio lectures with their course, along with Live Virtual classes that explain certain lessons in more detail. They also have UNLIMITED instructor help via phone, email and their message board if questions come up.
• Becker CPA Review also offers a wide range of lecture formats (On-demand, Live Online and Live Classroom), but unfortunately you can only choose one of them in your course package.
• UWorld Roger CPA Review has the most engaging video lectures you’ll find in a CPA review course and also offers audio lectures.

(For the latest and BEST discounts on these CPA review courses, check out my discounts page)

Reading/Writing Learners

Reading/writing learners are most receptive to information presented in a written language format, and typically excel in traditional course environments that emphasize reading or writing. Handouts, notes and lists are particularly helpful to help jog their memory, and the act of writing things down helps them remember things more deeply. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best approach for reading/writing learners is to incorporate LOTS of reading and note-taking.

Signs You’re a Reading/Writing Learner

• You prefer to interact with the world through reading/writing
• You have good grammar and/or a better than average vocabulary
• You prefer to read alone rather than have someone read the material to you
• You read frequently and often for leisure
• Are generally good at using manuals, reading directions, etc.
• Enjoy using or remembering quotes
• You tend to be highly organized and/or make and follow lists
• Enjoy creating handouts / PowerPoints for presenting
• Tend to take copious notes during lectures or meetings

CPA Exam Study Tips For Reading/Writing Learners

• Keep your notes highly organized (e.g. use headings, bullets, etc.)
• Consider re-writing notes to condense / reinforce lessons
• Read and re-read every printed study aid available (e.g. textbooks, flashcards, course outlines, etc.)
• Create and use your own flashcards
• Study alone to avoid distraction and go at your own pace
• Read ALL of the explanations to multiple choice questions and task-based simulations
• Keep a running list of topics you’re struggling with so you can easily circle back to them
• Frequently read back through notes to refresh your memory
• Take TONS of notes during course lectures

Best CPA Courses For Reading/Writing Learners

Most CPA review courses offer plenty of material geared toward reading/writing learners, but some are better than others. For reading/writing learners, I recommend Becker CPA Review and Gleim CPA Review.

• Becker CPA Review is the most traditional CPA review course and aligns most of its content and mnemonics around its course textbook.  They also have detailed written explanations of each multiple choice question and task-based simulation in the course.
• Gleim CPA Review should also be a top choice if you’re a reading/writing learner. Gleim’s textbooks are widely considered the most thorough in the industry and their Mega Bank of MCQs and simulations also have great written explanations to you understand why you got a question right or wrong.

(For the latest and BEST discounts on these CPA review courses, check out my discounts page)

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners learn best when they’re physically engaged with hands-on type activities or tinkering with things. They enjoy making, doing and building things with their hands, and tend to gravitate to activities like LEGOs, gardening / yard work, woodworking. They also tend to prefer “jumping in” and tinkering with things before thinking through all of the steps or instructions.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, kinesthetic learners have a more difficult time in conventional classroom / lecture settings that require them to sit still for long periods of time. Instead, kinesthetic learners usually need shorter, more focused bursts of instruction mixed in with frequent breaks.

The best ways to support kinesthetic learning incorporate movement, building things and visuals. Even though accounting isn’t very physical (you can’t exactly ‘touch’ goodwill), applying kinesthetic study techniques and incorporating physical activity into your day can help you focus and study for the exam much more efficiently.

Signs You’re a Kinesthetic Learner

• You learn best through hands-on activities
• You tend to be naturally active and have lots of energy
• You enjoy “getting your hands dirty” by tinkering with things (like Excel models!)
• You like taking things apart and putting them back together
• You have a hard time sitting still or paying attention for long periods
• You use exercise to help you think clearly about something
• You often need frequent breaks when studying
• The thought of sitting through lectures makes you cringe
• You’re naturally active or have lots of energy

CPA Exam Study Tips For Kinesthetic Learners

• Use physical objects like flashcards as much as possible (even better, make your own flashcards!)
• Listen to audio lectures while you exercise, or walk around the room while reading or watching video lectures
• Consider a course that offers live lessons or has a more engaging lecture format
• Try practicing multiple-choice questions and simulations before watching video lectures or reading the textbook
• Try to exercise at least 30-60 minutes each day (even if it’s just a walk around the block!)
• Develop a daily meditation practice to help you stay centered and control your attention
• Focus on controlling your breathing to help you stay calm, relaxed and focused while you study

Best CPA Course For Kinesthetic Learners

Gleim CPA Review, and Yaeger CPA Review are the top CPA review courses for kinesthetic learners.

• Gleim CPA Review features the largest MCQ and simulation bank in the business, which is perfect for a “learning by doing” approach. Gleim is also one of the few courses that offers audio lectures, so you can study while you exercise or do other activities.
• Yaeger CPA Review offers the best mix of lecture formats for kinesthetic learners, offering audio lectures AND Live Virtual classes with their conventional video lectures.

(For the latest and BEST discounts on these CPA review courses, check out my discounts page)

Conclusion

Hopefully this post helped you identify your own unique learning style. Now all that’s left is to pass the CPA exam!

Be sure to lean into the study methods and tips that will help you learn most effectively, and find a CPA review course that best supports your learning style.

Best of luck on the exam!

Featured image courtesy of Jason Strull on Unsplash